Water closet



June 26, 1945. c. E. HOFFMAN WATER CLOSET Filed Dec. 16,1943

Patented June 26, 1945 2,379,400 WATER oLosE'r George E. Hoffman, Evanston, Ill., assigner to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 16, 1943, Serial No. 514,571

3 Claims. (Cl. 4-237) This invention relates to seats for water closets and has for an object the provision of a seat which may readily be formed of relatively lightweight, thin sheet material such as metal, plastic,

plywood, or cardboard; thereby effecting a saving in weight and material, a reduction in the cost of manufacture, and overcoming breakage of the bowl rim due to falling of the seat thereon.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a seat having a channel-shaped form adapted to enclose Athe rim portion of a closet bowl and substantially conforming to the contour thereof to provide a smaller, more compact, and less conspicuous structure having a lower utility level or height from the floor.

This invention further contemplates the provision of simple and inexpensive means for detachably connecting the seat for pivotal movement on the closet bowl, and which permits relatively simple and instant removal of theseat from pivotal engagement with the bowl for thorough cleaning and airing.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a seat which may be formed of relatively inexpensive sheet materials by means of a simple forming operation, and in which the' relatively small manufacturing cost permits frequent replacement of the used seats with new seats. The frequency of replacement would, oi. course, be dependent upon the kind of material employed in making the seats. Seats formed of cardboard cost but a few pennies and provide an inexpensive,

sanitary and practical protective contact surface for bowls in public buildings; while seats formed of metal plastic, plywood, etc., and of various colors and designs, could be replaced by a differently colored seat at a nominal cost to match or harmonize with a color scheme of a room.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a seat design which permits a plurality of seats to 'be nested, one within another, to save space in shipping or storage. This feature is particularly desirable in covers formed of heavy paper or cardboard as it adapts them for use in coin operated dispensing machines.

This invention further contemplates the provision of improved means for detachably connecting a seat to a bowl. In the use of seat attachment means heretofore known to me, the bowls have often been broken by inexperienced people during replacement of seats. It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide an attachment means which permits the replacement of seats without the possibility of bowl breakage.

This invention embodies other novel features,

details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specifications and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part thereof, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view showing a water closet seat embodying features of this invention and as positioned on and detachably connected to a bowl.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of same.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken along the lines 3 3, 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of this invention, the water closet seat 6 is formed with a top portion 1, an inner wall 8, and an outer wall 9 arranged to provide a. channel-shaped construction substantially conforming with the contour of a rim portion II of a water closet bowl I2. The inner wall 8 preferably presents an unbroken enclosure, while the outer wall 9 is disposed around the front and along the sides of the bowl rim and terminates at its two ends beyond the top surface to form ears I3 having apertures I4 therein. Studs I6 are formed with threads I1 on their one end for engagement in threaded openings provided in the sides of the bowl. IThe outer ends of the studs are formed for loose engagement in the apertures I4 provided in the ears I3. If desired, suitable contact members I5 may be provided on the underside of the top portion 1 for engagement with the top of the bowl rim II and at spaced intervals throughout its periphery as it is not desirable to have the studs I6 sustain or carry any substantial weight.

The ear portions I3 are preferably formed of flexible material to yieldably resist displacement into and out of engagement with the studs IB when the seat is being mounted on or removed from the bowl and may be formed as an integral partr of the outer wall 9, as shown, if desired; although it is obvious that the seat could be formed of non-flexible material having ears of flexible material secured thereto, or ears otherwise laterally movable relative to the studs either for engagement or disengagement therewith.

It will thus be seen that a seat of the kindv shown and described may be simply and instantly connected for use or disconnected for cleaning and airing by merely moving the ears I 3 laterally for engagement or disengagement with their respective studs I6.

While this invention has been shown in but one form it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modications without departing from the spirit thereof of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a closet bowl having journals provided on the sides thereof, of a closet seat formed of relatively thin material comprising a top portion, an inner wall extending downwardly from the top portion and dening a central aperture, anouter wall disposed downwardly from the top portion and extending around the front of the top portion and along the sides thereof, said top portion, inner Wall, and outer wall substantially enclosing and substantially conforming with the contour of the rim portion of a closet bowl, the outer wall terminating in rear,- ward end portions on each side of the seat, ears formed as extensions of the rearward ends of the said outer wall and being yieldably resistant to lateral displacement for detachable pivotal connection with the journals provided on the `closet bowl. Y

2.` The combination with a closet bowl having journals provided on the sides thereof, of a closet seat formed of relatively thin material comprising a top portion, an inner wall extending downwardly Afrom the top portion and deilning a central aperture, an outer wall disposed downwardly from the top portion and extending around the front of the top portion and along the sides thereof, said top portion, inner wall, and outer wall substantially enclosing and substantially conforming with the contour of the rim portion of a closet bowl, ears disposed on the sides of the closet seat and yieldably resistant to lateral displacement for detachable pivotal connection with the journals provided on the closet bowl, the said outer wall being substantially continuous except for that portion between the said ears defining the rear limits of the closet seat, the ears projecting substantially beyond the rear limits of the 'said seat. f

3. The combination with a closet bowl having studs mounted in the sides thereof, of a closet seat` formed of relatively thin material comprising a top portion, an inner wall extending downwardly from the top portion and defining a centrai aperture, an outer wall disposed downwardly from the top portion and extending around the front of the top portion and along the sides thereof, said top portion, inner wall, and outer wall substantially enclosing and substantially conforming with the contour of the rim portion o1' a. closet bowl, ears disposed on the sides of the closet seat and yieldably resistant to lateral displacement for detachable pivotalv connection with the studs provided on the closet bowl, the said outer wall being unbroken except for that portion extending between the said ears, the latter discontinuous portion of the outer wall being substantially transverse tothe said ears and dening the rearward limits of the said top portion.

y GEORGE E. HOFFMAN. 

